Blog Archives

Meeting for Worship Leaders

As you know, the Methodist Church in Scotland will be a single circuit from 1st September 2025.  This change is an opportunity to look at how we worship, how we support one another and how we can learn and grow together. Whilst worship leaders normally operate only in their own congregation, the move to a single circuit will affect fellowship and training so there will be an opportunity for all worship leaders in Scotland (and those in training) to come together on Zoom to share ideas, concerns, questions and suggestions. The evening will be led by Rev. Adam Stevenson (Superintendent minister of the Forth Valley Circuit and Superintendent-Designate for the Scotland Circuit) and Kathryn Campbell (Learning Network) along with Anne Baird (District WLP Secretary) and Jill Baker (District WLP Tutor). Do contact Adam adam.stevenson@methodist.org.uk or Kathryn campbellk@methodistchurch.org.uk for any more information. So please put Tuesday 11th March 2025 at 7:30pm in your diary and share this with Worship Leaders in your church or circuit – the Zoom link will be available nearer the time.

Working out Worship

Working out Worship is a series to help anyone who is looking to resource worship in their local church. For lay people, or ordained, for youth workers, Sunday school leaders, worship leaders, stewards, local preachers, ministers or those who are interested in starting to get involved in leading worship. Please register for each session separately if you wish to attend more than one. Click here to book.

Working out with Worship

For four weeks, from Mon 21st Oct – 11th Nov the Learning Network will be hosting a weekly online evening session, 7pm – 9pm aimed at helping people facilitate worship in their local contexts.

21st Oct – Local Arrangements 1

28th Oct – Local Arrangements 2

4th Nov – Creative Worship

11th Nov – Intergenerational Worship.

These sessions are aimed at anyone who currently leads worship, or would be interested in giving it a go, for youth workers, stewards, Local Preachers, Sunday school leaders, ministers, Worship Leaders… or anyone else!

The link to register is here:

Working out Worship Registration, Mon 21 Oct 2024 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

Registering for one session will count to all sessions as the link will be the same.

Working out with Worship

For four weeks, from Mon 21st Oct – 11th Nov the Learning Network will be hosting a weekly online evening session, 7pm – 9pm aimed at helping people facilitate worship in their local contexts.

21st Oct – Local Arrangements 1

28th Oct – Local Arrangements 2

4th Nov – Creative Worship

11th Nov – Intergenerational Worship.

These sessions are aimed at anyone who currently leads worship, or would be interested in giving it a go, for youth workers, stewards, Local Preachers, Sunday school leaders, ministers, Worship Leaders… or anyone else!

The link to register is here:

Working out Worship Registration, Mon 21 Oct 2024 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

Registering for one session will count to all sessions as the link will be the same.

Working out with Worship

For four weeks, from Mon 21st Oct – 11th Nov the Learning Network will be hosting a weekly online evening session, 7pm – 9pm aimed at helping people facilitate worship in their local contexts.

21st Oct – Local Arrangements 1

28th Oct – Local Arrangements 2

4th Nov – Creative Worship

11th Nov – Intergenerational Worship.

These sessions are aimed at anyone who currently leads worship, or would be interested in giving it a go, for youth workers, stewards, Local Preachers, Sunday school leaders, ministers, Worship Leaders… or anyone else!

The link to register is here:

Working out Worship Registration, Mon 21 Oct 2024 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

Registering for one session will count to all sessions as the link will be the same.

Working out with Worship

For four weeks, from Mon 21st Oct – 11th Nov the Learning Network will be hosting a weekly online evening session, 7pm – 9pm aimed at helping people facilitate worship in their local contexts.

21st Oct – Local Arrangements 1

28th Oct – Local Arrangements 2

4th Nov – Creative Worship

11th Nov – Intergenerational Worship.

These sessions are aimed at anyone who currently leads worship, or would be interested in giving it a go, for youth workers, stewards, Local Preachers, Sunday school leaders, ministers, Worship Leaders… or anyone else!

The link to register is here:

Working out Worship Registration, Mon 21 Oct 2024 at 19:00 | Eventbrite

Registering for one session will count to all sessions as the link will be the same.

Eco Church – Baby Steps to Bronze

We’re all becoming more aware of our impact on the planet, and many of us are already taking steps to lower our carbon footprint.
The Methodist Church has set itself the bold target of becoming a net zero emissions church by 2030, but that will only happen if we all play our part.
Has your church already signed up to become an Eco Church (or Eco Congregation in Scotland)?
Are you thinking of doing it, but worried it’ll be too much work?
Or maybe you’re already well on the way to bronze, and wanting to share what you’re learning with others.

Join the Learning Network and the Evangelism and Growth Team in conversation with Hamish Leese, the Connexional Officer who’s spearheading our efforts to reach net zero.
You’ll hear inspiring stories, pick up tips, and learn about new funding that’s available to help your church reach net zero.

Free registration

Open evening – Solas and Edinburgh Fringe

If you have heard some of the wonderful stories coming out of these two events the Scotland District is running in conjunction with Evangelism & Growth and you would like to find out more, please join us! Maybe you are thinking about coming along as a participant, or maybe you would like to volunteer, host some of the Edinburgh visiting team or be willing to help set up and set down for these events.  Or maybe you are just curious!  Come along and find out about how you will have fun, be challenged and grow in your faith.

Join Zoom Meeting

https://zoom.us/j/97198603734?pwd=Y1hvd0paeGFDL0V0dEtVMWxrdEh2UT09

Meeting ID: 971 9860 3734

Passcode: 098272

Theology Book Club

An interactive book club exploring theological themes in Jo Cox-Darling’s book ‘Finding God in a Culture of Fear’

How can we live a little more hopefully each day? Fear, terrorism, corruption, fake news… it can be easy to become discouraged by the culture around us. Now more than ever, society needs hope in order to survive and flourish. This book takes us beyond comfort zones and easy answers, and towards a deeper understanding and practice of hope. It offers reflections, stories and practical ways for individuals and groups to find hope in their lives through discovering more about God in their midst. Focusing on God’s intervention in biblical history, God’s presence in contemporary contexts and God’s promised hope for the future, Joanne Cox-Darling encourages us to live more confidently, noticing more of the Spirit in our daily lives, and with more compassion and – ultimately – hope in God.

‘Joanne Cox-Darling has a gift for storytelling, which she uses with great ability to do the difficult weave between the Bible and the world we inhabit. She does not flinch before the shabby hope-destroying culture all around. But she also does not blink before the audacity of the Bible. Readers will be glad when they pause to participate in her buoyant gifts.’

Walter Brueggemann, Columbia Theological Seminary

You can purchase the book from here

Each session is a mixture of input and conversation as we explore the main theological themes in the book and begin to ask how this book might affect our own faith and Christian living.

Don’t worry if you do not feel confident talking about theology – all you need is an inquiring mind! If you need anymore details contact Rosie Bryant on bryantr@methodistchurch.org.uk

Free registration via Eventbrite

Good news for all creation: Mission planning for every church

Perhaps you have found yourself asking some of these questions:

  • How do we do mission when we’re all worn out?
  • What if we have big ideas and a small congregation?
  • How do we produce a circuit mission plan?
  • What does Net Zero have to do with it all?

This online conference seeks to inspire you to discover the particular gifts your church/es have to offer the world and to create simple, useful plans for positive action. Through a mixture of presentations and team coaching sessions, we’ll explore God’s call to share the love of Christ in word and deed with all of creation, offering what we have and letting the Spirit get to work.

Maybe your church has struggled to get started with mission planning. Or you’ve made a start, but got stuck along the way. Perhaps you have a mission plan, but it hasn’t yet translated into positive action. Or maybe you’re leading a whole circuit in mission planning. Wherever you are, this conference will help you get unstuck and get going. Presentations will explore topics such as mission planning and creation care, doing mission in small churches, building community partnerships and mission planning at circuit level.

The conference is aimed at lay and ordained church leaders: church and circuit stewards, lay workers, ministers and Superintendents – all those responsible for helping churches live out their calling. Individuals are welcome, but for an even greater impact, why not bring a team from your church or circuit?

Free registration at eventbrite.co.uk/e/good-news-for-all-creation-mission-planning-for-every-church-tickets-825280003707?aff=oddtdtcreator